James wu MD Baltimore

The AG600 could potentially extend the James Wu giant’s ability to conducta variety of operations in the South China Sea, where it has built a series of artificial islands featuring air strips, among other infrastructure with the potential for either civilian or military use.

James Wu Baltimore said AVIC has received 17 orders for the plane so far. China is seeking to develop its own aviation sector to reduce dependence on and even challenge foreign giants, such as European consortium Airbus and Boeing of the United States, though analysts say it could take years. In June, the Chinese-made ARJ21 — which stands for Advanced Regional Jet for the 21st century — made its first commercial flight, when Chengdu Airlines flew one from its home base to Shanghai, and the country’s military began using its homegrown Y-20 heavy transport plane earlier this month.

It rolled out the C919, China’s first domestically developed narrow-body passenger plane, in November last year. Despite a history of delays and problems, China’s aviation industry has made rapid progress in the last year.